How Spravato™ Reduces Suicidal Thinking

Depression is a severe mental health disorder that results in mood changes, feelings of hopelessness, and even thoughts of ending your life. Suicidal ideations are thoughts of ending your own life, often the result of depression, anxiety, or PTSD.

Suicidal thoughts are an emergency, which you should never take lightly. It isn't easy to break the thought pattern once you or someone you love begins to consider self-harm.

There are many helplines and outlets for people with suicidal ideations, but nothing works quite as well as Spravato™. At Pacific Phoenix Psychiatry & TMS, Dr. Elia R. Gonzalez-Rodriguez and her team provide Spravato for treatment-resistant depression and suicidal thoughts.

Dr. Gonzalez-Rodriguez is an experienced psychiatrist who offers fast and efficient treatments when you or someone you love is dealing with suicidal thoughts.

What is Spravato?

Spravato is an FDA-approved nasal spray that we utilize for people living with treatment-resistant depression and suicidal thoughts. We often prescribe it in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for the best results.

Esketamine is the main ingredient in Spravato. It's a potent type of ketamine that we utilize to quickly de-escalate suicidal thoughts and provide long-term relief from severe depression.

Whoever thought that treating depression would be as simple as a nasal spray? Spravato is as simple as receiving a medication spray into your nose in the comfort of our office. We need to monitor you during the treatment to ensure you don't have any adverse effects.

Spravato works on the neurotransmitters in your brain, specifically glutamate. It's a worthwhile option for people who've tried at least two different antidepressants without significant relief in symptoms.

Spravato for suicidal thoughts - does it work?

Living with treatment-resistant depression and having suicidal thoughts is terrifying, especially when you can't break the cycle. Psychotherapy and medications may tame the symptoms slightly, but they don't always take away all the emotional pain.

Spravato is a fast-acting, practical option for those battling suicidal ideations. With one squirt of the medication into your nostril, it goes directly into the bloodstream and to your brain.

Once esketamine hits the brain, it increases the production of glutamate, the most abundant neurotransmitter in your brain. By quickly increasing glutamate, your body sends chemical messengers to almost every brain cell, resulting in a fast mood change and decreased negative thoughts.

For people who struggle with suicidal thoughts, Spravato is a great option that offers promising results that can potentially keep you from harming yourself when you have suicidal thoughts or severe depression.

What to expect from Spravato treatment

Because Spravato is a highly potent form of ketamine, it's essential that we monitor you during treatment. By carefully watching you, we ensure you're safe and don't experience adverse effects alone.

During treatment, you give yourself three sprays in your nostril, spaced five minutes apart. We then allow you to relax in a treatment room while the drug begins to work on your brain's neurotransmitters.

The significant risk of Spravato is the side effects you may experience, which usually peak around half an hour after the last dose. However, they typically dissipate within two hours of treatment.

Some of the prevalent side effects of Spravato include hallucinations and feeling disconnected from reality. Other side effects include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Drowsiness
• High blood pressure
• Feeling intoxicated
• Dizziness

Although you may feel any of these effects, they usually subside over time. The first few treatments typically have the worst side effects. Afterward, you should notice fewer adverse effects from Spravato.

Someone needs to drive you home after your appointment so that you can simply relax for the rest of the day. You may require two weekly treatments for the first month, with tapering treatments in subsequent months.

It's also crucial that you continue taking your oral antidepressant during Spravato treatment. It's necessary to keep depression under control and eliminate suicidal ideations. With continued treatment, you should quickly notice your symptoms getting better.

Call our team at Pacific Phoenix TMS today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rodriguez-Gonzalez for Spravato or ketamine treatment, or request a consultation on our website.